Method and apparatus for deployment of a communication line onto a surface such as a roadway or pathway

ABSTRACT

A method for adhering a tubular body to a surface. The tubular body may be, for example, a communication line and the surface may be a road. The method includes deploying a tubular body directly onto a natural surface, applying an uncured protectant onto the tubular body while the tubular body is on the natural surface, and shaping the uncured protectant to possess a constant cross-sectional shape around the tubular body on the natural surface. The method includes curing the uncured protectant into a cured protectant to adhere the tubular body and the cured protectant to the natural surface, whereby the tubular body is protectively encased and adhered to the natural surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/414,218 filed on Jan. 24, 2017, and claimspriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/672,256 filed on Mar.30, 2015, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,588,315, and ProvisionalApplication 61/972,216, filed Mar. 28, 2014. The entire content of allof these documents are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that may be relevant:

U.S. Patents Pat. No. Kind Code Issue Date Patentee or Assignee8,080,901 B2 Dec. 20, 2011 Loganathan Doraisamy 7,112,746 B2 Sep. 26,2006 Nobuhiko Tsukahara et al. 4,521,767 Jun. 4, 1985 Richard F. Bridge3,911,390 Oct. 7, 1975 Richard H. Myers U.S. Patent ApplicationPublications Pub. No. Kind Code Pub. Date Applicant 2014/0020815 A1 Jan.23, 2014 Paul R. Dickinson et al. 2002/0038716 A1 Apr. 4, 2002 RonaldAnthony Pineda Foreign Patent Documents Foreign Doc. Country Kind No.Code Code Pub Date. Patentee 9935346 WO A1 Jul. 15, 1999 HelideoCosta-Elias et al. 2762155 FR A1 Oct. 16, 1998 Giebel Wolfgang et al.2002131024 JP May 9, 2002 Ryoji Kobayashi et al. 7318741 JP A Dec. 8,1995 Yamada Taro

Some of the prior art above has low relevance to this application.Doraisamy Loganathan (2011) addresses electrical power generation from aroad surface. Richard F. Bridge (1985) deals with using a fiber link ina security trip wire system. Richard H. Myers (1975) speaks of a roadtraffic monitoring system. Ryoji Kobayashi et al. (2002) has an overheadprojector application. Yamada Taro (1995) presents a cable/connectorassembly.

The remaining prior art for installing fiber optic cable may be dividedinto two categories. One category, illustrated by Nobuhiko Tsukahara etal. (2006) and by Dickinson et al. (2014), addresses the installation offiber on or inside a building but does not provide a capability forfiber installation over any appreciable distance. Nobuhiko Tsukahara etal. (2006) and Dickinson et al. (2014) also do not protect the fiber onthe ground from vehicle or foot traffic. The second category of priorart does reference a capability for installation of communication linesover an appreciable distance and will be addressed below.

The usual process for manufacturing a communications cable for distanceinstallation varies widely but usually consists of extruding plasticcore tubes around fibers, helically wrapping the tubes around a centralstrength member, building up several layers of protective sheathing,surrounding the sheathing with armor such as steel, and surrounding thearmor with a heavy polymer jacket.

Once a cable is manufactured, it can be pulled through conduits, hungalong telephone poles, buried inside trenches as per Giebel Wolfgang etal. (1998), installed using a horizontal directional drill,micro-trenched into a roadway as per Helideo Costa-Elias et al. (1999),or installed on a roadway by using a flat fiber conduit for furtherprotection, as per Ronald Anthony Pineda (2002).

The use of armor and other materials increases the weight, fabricationcost, and installation foot-print of the fiber cable. The largerinstallation footprint often requires the significant disruption andrepair of the installed route, all of which contributes to higherinstallation cost.

When installing below the surface, fiber cables can either bedirect-buried or installed into a conduit to further protect the cable.Conduit is often installed by trenching into the ground or using ahorizontal directional drill to install conduit over short distanceswithout disrupting the surface. The use of conduit requires the addedcost and overhead of conduit installation along with the fiber cablemanufacturing and installation.

Aerial installs are performed by draping communication cables oncommunication or power distribution poles. Although this can provide fora quicker install than trenching or micro-trenching, it has severaldownsides. If the poles do exist, they could already be holding themaximum weight allowed, rendering them useless for expansion.Additionally, trees, buildings, personal property, and other utilities,often interfere with the installation of new poles or cables. Installersare endangered by nearby local traffic, the height at which they mustwork, and the often dangerous voltages in the vicinity of their workarea. Overhead installations are affected by unavoidable weatherconditions, such as ice storms and thunderstorms. These environmentalconditions often damage overhead installations for extended periods oftime and require expensive repairs. Additionally, aerial installationsare not aesthetically pleasing, compared to other lower visibilityinstallation techniques.

Plowing, direct burial or other similar installs entail an array ofmachines that utilize a cutting blade to trench through soil or othernatural ground substances. The communication cable is installed in asingle-pass process, first by cutting the trench, burying the cable, andthen backfilling the trench with a filler material suitable for theground surface. This installation technique as per Giebel Wolfgang etal. (1998) causes significant disruption to local roadway infrastructurewith attendant business impacts and transportation delays.

Horizontal directional drilling is a method of installing fiber opticcables underground without having to disrupt local surface features.This is typically done to install cables under surface obstacles thatcannot be avoided by route planning such as rivers, roads, andbuildings. There is risk of damaging other underground infrastructure asthe drilling bit bores through the ground. This method is equipment andlabor intensive, and is more of an obstacle avoidance technique than acomplete end to end communication cable installation technique.

A micro-trenching install is similar to a trenching or plowing install,but the cutting tool and ground opening are smaller, and the fillermaterials required are typically less than trenching. Themicro-trenching install is mainly used on roadways and utilizes a heavyduty diamond saw blade that cuts a narrow, perhaps inches wide, sectionof a roadway or similar surface to a predetermined depth dependent onthe location. A communication cable is installed or micro duct isinserted for later filling with a communication cable. After that, themicro-trench is backfilled with an aggregate and other approvedmaterials. The risks of this technique as per Helideo Costa-Elias et al.(1999) include cutting of an existing utility, the infliction of damageto the integrity of the road surface requiring significant repair, andmany of the same risks to installers as the roadside aerialinstallation. Additionally, micro-trenching is not preferred insituations that involve private roads, shallow road surfaces, bridges,and tunnels, to name a few.

The use of traffic resistant conduit, as per Ronald Anthony Pineda(2002), installed directly on a roadway entails the added cost offabricating and installing the conduit.

Prior art communication line installations limitations include: alimited ability to economically provide rural and some suburban serviceon an individual customer basis, a limited ability to reach rural andsuburban customers on an economical basis, installation times that oftenrange from weeks to months to years, installation methods that usuallyentail significant business impacts due to traffic disruption along withincreased labor, time, and costs, and often an inherently higher risk ofinjury to installers (i.e. trench collapse, traffic accidents, heavyequipment risks, accidental damage to other utilities, and high voltageelectric shock for installers).

SUMMARY

In one or more aspects, the embodiment is a method of laying out acommunication line and using a protectant to adhere and encase thecommunication line onto a surface.

ADVANTAGES

This application relates to the deployment of a communication line suchas optical fiber or fibers directly onto a surface such as a roadway, apathway, or a walkway, and the use of a hard and weather resistantprotectant such as an ultraviolet cured urethane resin to protect thecommunication line from the effects of traffic and weather.

All prior art methods for installing optical fiber on land, includingbuilding armored cables around fibers, burying cables inside trenches,pulling cables through conduits, hanging cables along telephone poles,burying cables inside trenches, drilling horizontally to pull cables,micro-trenching cables into roadways, and installing flat road surfaceconduit require more labor, materials, equipment, and time than thismethod describes.

Advantages of the method include the preservation of road surfaceintegrity, installation without disrupting existing utilities andinfrastructure, installation with less business and traffic impact,installation requiring reduced equipment, materials, and labor, fasterinstallation, reduced installation cost, and the ability to provide aneconomically viable communication path and connection on a per-customerdemand basis. This method offers reasoning from first principles with acost structure orders of magnitude cheaper compared to existing priorart and can offer new capabilities at a lower cost than incumbents.

The low cost of installation will allow the deployment of redundantnetwork links that will support the distribution of service viaalternate communication routes if one link is damaged or degraded.Real-time failover techniques will pinpoint the site of the damage andwill reroute data flow to unload the affected link. This will minimizethe impact to customers until repairs are made.

The cost of repairs will be low because the communication line will bereadily accessible without excavation or overhead rigging.

While fiber-optic systems excel in high-bandwidth installations such asthe communications backbone and the middle-mile, optical fiber has beenunable to provide cost-effective broadband to the last-mile, i.e. allthe way to every end user.

The described method of installing a communication line on a surface,such as a roadway, protected by a hard and weather-proof covering, suchas an ultraviolet cured urethane resin, allows for quick, safe,reliable, and less expensive communication line installations. Byleveraging existing network effects from the second industrialrevolution, this method will contribute greatly to solving the last-mileproblem—delivery of high bandwidth fiber directly to the home. By usingexisting roadways, this method provides a viable deployment option thatwill enable communication infrastructure expansion all the way to thecustomer's home or business premises. This network expansion will allowfor small business growth and will drive development and jobs that willfurther increase economic development.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a general perspective overview of the apparatus in accordancewith the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single communication line encased inprotectant that is applied to a surface in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of communication linesencased in protectant that is applied to a surface in accordance withanother embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one installation crossing overanother installation whereby both installations are applied to a surfacein accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an installation bypassing a surfaceobstacle in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an installation bridging over a surfacecrack in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the origin or terminus pit in accordancewith the first embodiment.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   100 surface-   102 installed communication line-   104 cured protectant-   106 shaped protectant-   108 unshaped protectant-   110 protectant shaping template-   112 bare communication line-   114 bare communication line guide-   116 spool-   118 protectant container-   120 protectant applicator-   122 curing lamp-   124 surface blower-   126 chassis-   128 wheel(s)-   130 direction of travel-   132 air pump-   500 surface obstacle-   600 surface crack-   700 typical communication cable-   702 typical communication line splice-   704 pit, origin or terminus-   706 pit lid-   708 typical communication line-   710 pit transition

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIRST EMBODIMENT

In general, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of acommunication line deployment apparatus. The embodiment includes asurface blower 124 mounted to a chassis 126 of the apparatus. Aprotectant shaping template 110 is mounted to a protectant applicator120. A bare communication line guide 114 is mounted to protectantapplicator 120. Protectant applicator 120 is mounted to a protectantcontainer 118. An air pump 132 is attached to protectant container 118.Protectant container 118 is mounted to chassis 126. A curing lamp 122 ismounted to chassis 126. A set of wheels 128 is mounted to chassis 126.The wheels allow the apparatus to move in a direction of travel 130along a predetermined route on a surface 100 such as asphalt. A vehiclewith typical tow hitches (not shown) is connected to chassis 126 nearthe front of the apparatus. A spool 116 is mounted to chassis 126. Spool116 holds a predetermined length of a bare communication line 112 suchas optical fiber. Bare communication line 112 unwinds from spool 116 ata rate commensurate with the apparatus speed and direction of travel130. Bare communication line 112 passes through bare communication lineguide 114 before placement onto surface 100.

In general, in an aspect, protectant container 118 holds an unshapedprotectant 108 material. Under air pressure, unshaped protectant 108moves from protectant container 118 and into protectant applicator 120.Protectant applicator 120 ejects unshaped protectant 108 onto barecommunication line 112 surrounding and encasing the bare communicationline as it lays on surface 100.

Unshaped protectant 108 along with bare communication line 112 passthrough protectant shaping template 110. Protectant shaping template 110shapes unshaped protectant into a shaped protectant 106. Curing lamp 122cures shaped protectant 106 to a cured protectant 104. Cured protectant104 encloses the line resulting in installed communication line 102.Cured protectant 104 provides a hardened and weatherproof encasement forinstalled communication line 102. When cured, the predetermined shape ofcured protectant 104 is similar to the shape shown in FIG. 2 andprovides low resistance to vehicle tires that may drive over theinstallation. The shape also permits communication line crossovers tooccur without exceeding the communication line's minimum bend radius, asshown in FIG. 4.

It is presently contemplated that unshaped protectant 108 held inprotectant container 118 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is an ultravioletcured urethane resin. Sources of the material are available from SunrezCorporation of El Cajon, Calif., 92020, or Epoxies, Etc. of Cranston,R.I., 02921. The resin is selected based on predetermined viscosity,non-conductivity, hardness, cured strength, impact resistance, servicetemperature, and adhesive tensile shear characteristics. The resin ischosen to have a long service life and to meet flammability and othercompliance requirements when cured, for application onto the intendedsurface. Cured protectant 104 is formulated to withstand the dynamic andstatic pressures presented by both pedestrian and vehicle traffic as thebond of cured protectant 104 to surface 100 is robust.

The curing lamp is tailored to the specific protectant used. In thisembodiment, it is a high power ultraviolet lamp capable of curing theresin in approximately two to five seconds.

Protectant container 118 and protectant applicator 120 are opaque toultraviolet light and block the light from causing any unwanted cureinside these components.

The overall material thickness of the cured protectant 104 isapproximately three to ten millimeters. Cured protectant 104 does notdegrade the frictional coefficient required by a vehicle tire againstsurface 100, even when wet.

In general, in one aspect of the embodiment, FIG. 7 shows a perspectiveview of either an origin pit or a terminus pit 704 (origin and terminuspits are functionally equivalent). Pit 704 includes a pit lid 706 thatcan be closed and sealed to protect the contents of the pit fromexposure to weather or traffic. Pit 704 contains a typical communicationcable 700 that enters from the side of the pit below surface 100.Typical communication cable 700 contains a typical communication line708 that is exposed inside pit 704. Pit 704 receives bare communicationline 112 from spool 116 of the apparatus. Pit 704 contains a typicalcommunication line splice 702 that connects typical communication line708 to bare communication line 112. Pit 704 contains a predeterminedamount of cured protectant that adheres bare communication line 112 to apit transition 710.

OPERATION—FIRST EMBODIMENT

First, a route survey is performed and consists of optically surveyingpossible routes to select the optimum route for deploying acommunication line such as an optical fiber from an origin to aterminus, using pits 704 similar to one shown in FIG. 7. The routesurvey will record all road surface conditions and hazards including:boundaries, turns, lengths, significant path defects, cracks,depressions, railroad tracks, bridge transition joints, and any othersurface obstacle to avoid such as manholes as shown in FIG. 5. Followingthe survey, the desired route for the communication line installation isselected, origin and terminus pits 704 are installed, and typicalcommunication cables 700 are installed into the sides of origin andterminus pits 704.

Next, a predetermined amount of bare communication line 112, thatdefines one end of the line, is unwound from spool 116 and placed insideorigin pit 704. A predetermined section of bare communication line 112is covered with a predetermined amount of unshaped protectant 108 thatis then cured, adhering bare communication line 112 to origin pittransition 710. Bare communication line 112 is then spliced to typicalcommunication line 708 from typical communication cable 700 usingtypical communication line splice 702. Once the bare communication linesare spliced, origin pit lid 706 can be closed to protect the barecommunication lines and splice from weather, vehicle traffic, orpedestrian traffic.

The operation of the apparatus follows a method that include fourphases: Path Preparation, Communication Line Application, ProtectantApplication, and Protectant Cure. These phases are conducted andcompleted in a single transit of the predetermined route from origin pit704 to terminus pit 704 by the vehicle with typical tow hitches (notshown) that tows the apparatus, functionally similar to one shown inFIG. 1, in direction of travel 130.

Path Preparation—This phase includes the use of surface blower 124utilizing high pressure air to blow loose debris away from thepredetermined installation path along surface 100.

Communication Line Application—After the Path Preparation phase is theCommunication Line Application phase where bare communication line 112unwinds from spool 116 and passes through bare communication line guide114. Bare communication line guide 114 guides bare communication line112 onto surface 100 along a predetermined path.

Protectant Application—This phase follows the Communication LineApplication phase and entails the application of unshaped protectant 108stored in protectant container 118. Air pressure from air pump 132pushes unshaped protectant 108 from protectant container 118 intoprotectant applicator 120. Protectant applicator 120 ejects unshapedprotectant 108 onto previously placed bare communication line 112,completely encasing and covering it. As the apparatus continues indirection of travel 130, unshaped protectant 108 and the communicationline pass through protectant shaping template 110 that shapes the highlyviscous protectant material around the communication line and intoshaped protectant 106.

Protectant Cure—As the apparatus continues moving in the predetermineddirection of travel, shaped protectant 106 is cured in approximately twoto five seconds with curing lamp 122 resulting in cured protectant 104.Cured protectant 104 encases the communication line resulting ininstalled communication line 102 on surface 100.

Upon reaching terminus pit 704, a predetermined amount of barecommunication line 112 is unwound and separated from spool 116.Separated bare communication line 112 is placed inside terminus pit 704along pit transition 710. The section of bare communication line 112that extends along terminus pit transition 710 is covered with apredetermined amount of unshaped protectant 108. Unshaped protectant 108is then cured, adhering bare communication line 112 to terminus pittransition 710. Bare communication line 112 is spliced to typicalcommunication line 708 using typical communication line splice 702 shownin FIG. 7. After the final connection is made and the link established,terminus pit lid 706 is closed, protecting the splice and thecommunication lines from weather and traffic.

It should be understood that the foregoing description of the embodimentand operation is intended merely to be illustrative thereof and thatother equivalents, embodiments and modifications of the invention may beapparent to those skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION—ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS

In cases in which the communication line is transparent and the curedprotectant is transparent, the installation could be nearly invisible.In some embodiments, the communication line and protectant could bepainted or tinted or otherwise colored so that it could blend into theroadway or pathway surface, or colored so that it could stand outagainst the surface so as to be easily identified.

In some embodiments, a device such as an Optical Time DomainReflectometer is connected to the bare communication line at the originof the installation.

In some embodiments, the apparatus is sized to be, or to be part of, acart that is pushed or pulled by a human being, or attached to a vehiclethat is driven, towed, pushed, remote driven, or otherwiseself-propelled.

In some embodiments, a chassis mounted computer could be used during theinstallation of the communication line by the apparatus.

In some embodiments, a line tension management system is mounted on thechassis and connects with the bare communication line and the spool.

In some embodiments, a protectant heater is mounted on the chassisdirectly after the protectant shaping template but before the curinglamp.

In some embodiments, a computer controlled valve is connected to anapplication nozzle. The application nozzle is connected to the tip ofthe protectant applicator.

In some embodiments, the surface is made up of asphalt, concrete orsimilarly hard material.

In some embodiments, a hard and narrow surface could be installed inanticipation of the communication line laying process, such as bypouring a thin strip of concrete across a field or along a gravel ordirt road.

In some embodiments, the number of wheels on the apparatus could be oneor more, or alternatively the apparatus could be tracked.

In some embodiments, a plurality of communication lines from multiplespools could be installed as a parallel grouping under the protectantduring one pass of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, installed communication lines could cross over oneanother, as shown in FIG. 4.

In some embodiments, other materials may be suitable for the protectant,such as polyester, vinylester, or polyepoxides. It is also conceivedthat a layer of asphalt, concrete, or similar material could be placedover the installed communication line as another type of protectant.

In some embodiments, the overall thickness of the applied protectantcould be greater than ten millimeters.

In some embodiments, a height transition piece could be used during theinstallation of a communication line. The height transition piece isadhered to the surface at a height transition.

In some embodiments, a chassis mounted sliding rail system integrateswith the chassis mounted computer. The sliding rail system includes asliding rail that supports the protectant applicator, the barecommunication line guide, the protectant shaping template, and thecuring lamp.

In some embodiments, a longer array of curing lamps mounted to thechassis of the apparatus, or an array of curing lamps towed behind theapparatus, or a plurality of curing machines could follow the apparatusand allow the installation apparatus to achieve higher speeds duringinstallation.

In some embodiments, a vacuum, rotating or sweeping brush, or scrapingtool may be mounted on the chassis with or in place of the surfaceblower. It is also conceived that a debris skirt may be attached to thechassis.

In some embodiments, the types of pump used to move the unshapedprotectant from the protectant container could be positive displacementpumps, impulse pumps, velocity type pumps, or similar.

In some embodiments, a degreasing system is mounted on the chassisdirectly behind the blower.

In some embodiments, it may be determined that a mid-span access torepair or reroute the installed communication line is required after aninstallation has already occurred. It is contemplated that tools wouldbe necessary for removing various amounts of protectant in order to gainaccess to the encased communication line. These tools could strip away,melt, or chemically dissolve the protectant, exposing the underlyingbare communication line.

In some embodiments, it may be necessary to completely uninstall thecommunication line and protectant. It is contemplated that tools toscrape, abrade, dissolve, or otherwise remove the cured protectant andline may be required.

In some embodiments, the origin and terminus pits may be other shapesand types of housings such as cylindrical, wall mounted, or above groundpedestals.

In some embodiments, the origin and terminus pit lids may be clear ormade up of a photovoltaic power system. Solar powered add/dropmultiplexers could be placed inside origin or terminus pits to allow forthe branching of communication line signals. The add/drop multiplexerscould alternatively be powered by utility power cables installed throughthe side of the origin or terminus pits.

OPERATION—ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENT

In some embodiments, the protectant applicator and bare communicationline guide may move up and down to closely track surface height changesthat sometimes occur along an installation route such as a speed bump,for example.

In some embodiments, the protectant applicator could squeeze, pump,expel, eject, etc. the unshaped protectant from within.

In some embodiments during the installation, a System Communication Testcould be conducted using the Optical Time Domain Reflectometer that isconnected to the bare communication line and could continuously monitorthe installed communication line to detect a line anomaly alerting theinstallers of an installation error. Alternatively, the SystemCommunication Test could occur after the installation of thecommunication line is complete to confirm the overall quality of theinstallation.

In some embodiments, the installation apparatus may optically registerits position relative to the road boundary or curb using the computerthat processes optical data collected on the previous route survey toaid the operator's adherence to the desired predetermined communicationline route.

During the Path Preparation phase, an embodiment could include thecomputer controlled system that uses a high resolution radar, laser, orimaging sensor to measure the dimensions of the cracks and depressionsthat are encountered along the route. The computer could control theflow of the unshaped protectant in real time using the computercontrolled valve feeding an application nozzle. This would allow for thereal time application of unshaped protectant based on the varying ratesof speed and the quality of the surface as the application nozzle movesin the direction of travel along the intended route similar to what isshown in FIG. 6. Alternatively, route spot repairs, such as for deepcracks, could be completed by a road work crew before the installationapparatus transits the selected route.

In some embodiments, protectant could be applied and partially curedprior to the communication line being laid so as to provide a smooth,pliable, and semirigid base for the communication line installation.

In some embodiments, it is conceived that an abrupt surface heightchange, such as a curb, is encountered during installation and couldexceed the minimum bend radius allowed for the communication line. Apiece specifically shaped for the transition requirement, similar to theshape of the pit transition shown in FIG. 7, could be adhered to thesurface at the height transition thus avoiding the violation of theminimum bend radius limit of the communication line.

In some embodiments, the bare communication line slack and tension couldbe controlled by the line tension management system that activelymonitors the slack of the communication line as it comes off the spooland adjusts the level of slack as the bare communication line enters thebare communication line guide.

In some embodiments, the components of the apparatus may be moved fromside to side, orthogonal to the direction of travel, in order to avoid asurface obstacle similar to FIG. 5. Using the computer and the highresolution radar, laser, or imaging sensor data, the apparatus coulddetect an upcoming obstacle such as a manhole and command the slidingrail system to shift components of the apparatus left or right, withouthaving the entire apparatus turn.

In some embodiments, the debris skirt may be utilized to prevent blowingdebris from damaging surrounding property or causing injury topersonnel.

In some embodiments, the degreasing system can degrease the surface ofoils and grease and could be used prior to the application of theunshaped protectant to enhance the strength of the bond of the curedprotectant to the surface.

In some embodiments, the sun could be used to cure the ultravioletcurable protectant installed by the apparatus.

In some embodiments, the protectant heater could be utilized to removebubbles from the protectant after it passes through the protectantshaping template before being cured by the curing lamp.

In some embodiments, the origin or terminus pits could have a pluralityof communication cables installed and a plurality of surface linesinstalled as per the operation of the first embodiment.

In some embodiments, tools are used to access the installedcommunication line mid-span in order to splice to another barecommunication line that is staged for installation or repair around afailure of the installed communication line. After access has occurred,a typical splice is performed. To protect the splice, a predeterminedamount of the unshaped protectant could be applied to the accesslocation and cured, re-encasing and protecting the installedcommunication line and the typical communication line splice.

In some embodiments, re-coating the cured protectant may be required andthe apparatus could transit the installed communication line to applyadditional coatings of the protectant.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Thus, the reader will see that at least one embodiment can be used tomore economically deploy a communication line in such a fashion as torealize the potential of broadband delivery directly to the individualend user. This method provides a higher speed and lower costinstallation than all prior art methods for installing communicationlines on land, including building armored cables around fibers, buryingcables inside trenches, pulling cables through conduits, hanging cablesalong telephone poles, burying cables inside trenches, drilling andinstalling cables horizontally, micro-trenching cables into roadways,and installing flat conduit on a roadway. All prior art methods requiremore labor, materials, equipment, and time than the method claimed.

This installation method deploys communication lines without degradingroad surface integrity and with little if any business impact andtraffic delay. There is also little risk of damage to existing utilitiesand infrastructure.

The method may be installed with a reduced amount of material andequipment as compared to other installation techniques.

Redundant links will provide greater network reliability due to the easeand speed of installing alternative communication routes with anauto-fail-over recovery capability.

The method allows for quick, safe, reliable, and less expensivecommunication line installations that will contribute to solving thelast mile problem.

The method provides a viable deployment option that will drivedevelopment, jobs, growth and real communication infrastructureexpansion all the way to the customer premises.

While the above description contains many specificities, these shouldnot be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as anexemplification of several embodiments thereof. Many other variationsare possible. For example, a machine that lays a communication linewhile road surface marks are installed, or a machine that lays acommunication line at the same time that a road is paved are allpossible.

Alternative embodiments of the method consist of a single communicationline covered with a single protectant, or a plurality of communicationlines installed in parallel covered by a single protectant or pluralityof protectant layers.

Another embodiment may consist of deploying various sizes ofcommunication lines at the same time.

Ramifications could include alternate protectants, some having moreelastic properties than others. For example, a compliant material couldcoat the bare communication line first, followed by the application of ahardened protectant that encases the compliant material andcommunication line.

The embodiments consist of deploying on any outside contiguous routesuch as a roadway, a highway, a street, a driveway, a bike path, awalkway, a sidewalk, or a neighborhood pipestem. It is furthercontemplated that the embodiments could consist of deployingcommunication lines indoors, such as along a factory floor, in a concerthall, or throughout an exposition center.

The communication line could be deployed in a single pass by theinstallation apparatus with or without a prior route survey or thecommunication line could be installed in separate passes using aplurality of machines that deploy the communication line over severaltransits of the route. This communication line could also be manuallydeployed by hand for short distances without the use of the apparatus,while still following the steps of the method.

The embodiment could be used by telecommunication providers forsecondary backhaul, by utility providers during routine businessoperations, by emergency communication providers following a naturaldisaster, by event staff setting up temporary gatherings such asconcerts or festivals, and by military forces operating in newlyacquired territory.

These and other aspects, features, and implementations, and combinationsof them, can be expressed as methods, means and steps for performingfunctions, developing apparatus, systems, components, compositions ofmatter, and in other ways.

[99] Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodimentsor the examples illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legalequivalents.

Other aspects, features, implementations, and advantages will beapparent from the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: deploying a tubular bodydirectly onto a surface from a deployment apparatus comprising at leastone rotatable body, said at least one rotatable body directly contactingsaid surface at a contact point, said tubular body comprising a highpoint and a low point, said low point of said tubular body beingparallel with said contact point and said high point of said tubularbody being above said contact point of said at least one rotatable bodyafter said tubular body is deployed onto said surface; applying anuncured protectant onto the tubular body while the tubular body is onsaid surface, the uncured protectant being applied to enclose thetubular body on the surface within the uncured protectant; shaping theuncured protectant to possess a constant cross-sectional shape aroundthe tubular body on the surface; and curing the uncured protectant intoa cured protectant to adhere the tubular body and the cured protectantto the surface, the cured protectant possessing the constantcross-sectional shape, whereby the tubular body is protectively encasedand adhered to the surface, wherein the surface is a paved road.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the tubular body is a communication line. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the communication line is an opticalfiber cable containing optical fibers comprising a core, a cladding, anouter coating, and one or more layers of protective sheathing or armor.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cured protectant possesses athickness of 3 mm to 10 mm.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theuncured protectant is one or more of following: urethane, polyester,vinylester, or polyepoxides.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein theshaping of the uncured protectant is performed after the uncuredprotectant is applied to the surface.
 7. The method according to claim1, the constant cross-sectional shape of the cured protectant comprisesa peak directly above the tubular body and downwardly sloping tailregions extending on either side of the peak.
 8. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the tubular body is applied onto the surface byunspooling a spool.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein theuncured protectant is stored in a protectant container and is appliedonto the tubular body on the surface by being ejected from a protectantapplicator device.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein theuncured protectant is applied onto the tubular body using pressurizedair.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said uncuredprotectant is cured by a curing lamp.
 12. The method according to claim3, further comprising: splicing the optical fiber to a secondcommunication line after curing the uncured protectant, the secondcommunication line not being encased in the cured protectant.
 13. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body comprises at leastone curved segment when the tubular body is protectively encased andadhered to the surface.
 14. A method comprising: applying a tubular bodyonto a surface using an apparatus that moves along ground level whilethe tubular body is being applied along the surface at the ground level,the tubular body possessing a bottom surface and a top surface, thebottom surface contacting the ground level and the top surface beingabove the ground level; applying an uncured protectant directly onto thetubular body on the surface, the uncured protectant contacting thetubular body to completely cover said tubular body; and curing theuncured protectant into a cured protectant to adhere the tubular body tothe surface, whereby the tubular body is protectively encased andadhered to said surface.
 15. The method according to claim 14, whereinthe tubular body is an optical fiber cable.
 16. The method according toclaim 14, wherein the tubular body is applied onto the surface byunspooling a spool, and the uncured protectant is stored in a protectantcontainer and is applied onto the tubular body by a protectantapplicator device.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein saidspool, the protectant container, and the protectant applicator deviceare collectively mounted on a tubular body deployment apparatus.
 18. Themethod according to claim 14, wherein said uncured protectant cures intosaid cured protectant by ultraviolet light exposure.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein the tubular body comprises at least onecurved segment when the tubular body is protectively encased and adheredto the surface.
 20. A method comprising: applying at least one opticalfiber onto a surface using an apparatus that moves along ground levelwhile the at least one optical fiber is being applied along the surfaceat the ground level, the apparatus comprising wheels that directlycontact the surface at the ground level at contact points that arecoplanar with the at least one optical fiber after it is applied on thesurface at the ground level; applying an uncured protectant onto the atleast one optical fiber on the surface, the uncured protectantcontacting the at least one optical fiber to completely cover said atleast one optical fiber, the uncured protectant being viscous when it isapplied on the surface; and curing the uncured protectant into a curedprotectant to adhere the tubular body to the surface, whereby thetubular body is protectively encased and adhered to said surface.